The Bottineau pioneer. (Bottineau, N.D.) 1885-1895, 1887-04-14
The Hadd0ck Murder Trial.

~AS "~~VS AAAohe -
On Thursday the court room was packed
10 listen to the testimony OF Koschnitzy.
.lias Bismarck" The substantial facts
ession last October, and are famil-
ar to the public, but there was
,reat curiosity to see the man,
zeal the details OF the fearful tragedy from
lis lips, and note the manner OF telling it.
Everything about him and his peculiar
Ityle of narration tended to give force to
mis- evidence. He testified positively to see
ing A~rensdorf fire the shot that killed
Haddock.
Koschnitzy proved to be the most dam
yerous witness for the defense yet called.
The position OF the assassin when he fired
The shot, as told by ~"Bismark," CORE
spends with other testimony already sub
mitted, but he described with horrifying
illustration the face and expression OF the
minister as the ball penetrated the neck.
After "Bismarck's" testimony, Billy Doer-
sam was called and s~ubstantiated some of
the minor points OF Leavitt's story. He
was shown and identified the pants he wore
at the time, and said he had on a straw
hat. Mary Ryan, wife OF Jack Ryan, gave
sorroborative testimony as to incidental
Leavitt's testimony.
Mrs. Haddock, on reaching the courtroom
was visibly affected, and was given a seat
near the judges desk. She bore up with
lortitude until the narration of the details
Of the tragedy were given by the witnesses,
when she broke down with audible sobs
and groans. During the afternoon she
tainted and was carried from the room
moaning and weeping. The lndy a dress.
sdin deep mourning. Though a woman OF
rare strength OF nerve and mind she was
not or,,o1 RI thu trio1 ~ hor -
On the 31st, Minnie Koschnitski, aged
twelve, daughter OF 'Bismarck," was call
ed. The artless and straightforward story
proved to be the most sensational feature
Of the trial thus far. She is a black-eyed,
pleasant-faced little girl, whose manner
was that Of truthfulness and knowledge
of what she was saying. She gave a
detailed account OF conversations between
Arensdorf and her mother in regard to the
purchase OF her mothers house by Arens.
dorf, and of money furnished by him to
send the family to San Francisco. The
cross-examination failed to shake the force
of the girls artless story in the least; the
defense en~deavoring to show that she
had been coached by the attorneys for the
state. Counsel asked if she had talked
with Mr.. O'Connell. She replied: Eyes,
and he told me what to say. He told me
to tell the TRUTH
The defense in the afternoon began by
attacking the character Of the principal wit.
nesses for the state-Bismark and the
Leavitts. Officers Smith and Bridewell,
they saw Bismarck on that night about
11:3O p. M, after the shooting. He was in.
toxicated and couldn't walk straight.
Adolph Metz and William Metz (his father
swore that Bismarck came on their porch
that night about 12 o'clock and wanted
to get in. he was trunk and slept out on
the porch an hour or two. Mrs. Metz con-
6rmed their statements. Henry Rice
swore he called to see Bismarck on
Sunday, August l, to get him TO work
for him. Bismarck refused to work
s {Ss So F Fer day r snd s soiap he to an" nd
up preachers and lawyers; there was more
money in it. William Dalbson, being
sworn, said that on the night of the shoot.
ing he told Mrs. Leavitt of it. She said,
"Good!" m glad the ---- is kill
ed" He also narrated the trading OF hats
by Leavitt on the night of the shooting. His
wife didn't want him to wear the straw
hat after that. Matt Franciscus was next
called.
He lives heal the city, and was formerly
Bismark, and his character is bad; knew
Mr.. Leavitt; talked with him Aug. 8.
Leavitt said: "These saloonkeepers want
TO whip the preachers; I'm in favor OF kill.
ing the id -"
In the trial OF Arensdorf, on Friday,
"Bismark's" character was i"mpeached and
an effort made to make out an alibi fol
Arensdorf, and to connect Leavitt with
the shooting. Jailer Cruickshank, descrid'
ing Leavitt's visit to "Bismark" in jail,
quoted Leavitt as saying: You saw
John Arnesdorf shoot as we'll al
me-" Eyes, sir" Bismarck replied. D.
G.. Barnes, in his testimony, said he knew
Bismarck's character to be bad. On the
night of the murder he saw him in front q
the Columbia house and thought that HI
was sober at the time. Adolph Knep
per was a neighbor OF Bismarck's
at the time OF the murder. HI
bought the house through John Arens'
lori. He was his agent; paid $500 for it
He gave Arensdorf $3.50 to pay for it. H.
was not on good terms with Bismarck's
wife and that is the reason he had Arens'
dorf buy it for him: He paid off one lier
due for the rent OF the grounds
called the Red Light" said thai
of the murder and said: "These fellow
have no nerve they ought to do up some
Of them. You watch me and I will do them
up" Before keeping the Red Light hi
did business over Junk's saloon. Wher
questioned if he kept a gambling house al
either place he refused to answer on tn,
ground that he would criminate himself.